The Dancer
1900
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1900
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a dancer mid-movement, arms raised and legs bent. The lines are rough and scratchy, like quick pencil strokes. Her body is twisted, one hand gripping a pole or bar while the other arm stretches up. The artist used heavy shading to show light and shadow, making the dancer pop from the dark background. This style is called *chiaroscuro*—strong contrasts between light and dark. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how other artists used this dramatic lighting.
